W HOTELS WORLDWIDE SETS THE SCENE IN MUMBAI, GOA-STYLE

MUMBAI: W Hotels Worldwide today turned up the heat in Mumbai for an exclusive preview party in honor of the upcoming opening of W Goa, the iconic brand’s 50th hotel. Over 300 local influencers, tastemakers and celebrities, including Bollywood actresses and fashionistas Jacqueline Fernandez and Radhika Apte; Fashion Designer and W Goa influencer Nida Mahmood; and Zumba expert Sucheta Pal, joined the celebration. The soon to open W Goa, will be the first W Hotel in India, disrupting the traditional luxury hotel scene in ways that only W Hotels can. The night was filled with explosive fashion and music including a curated fashion show to unveil a chic capsule collection inspired by W Goa created by India-born, New York-based designers Sachin and Babi Alhuwalia.

“From its fresh take on fashion and music to its electrifying nightlife, W Hotels is the perfect complement to Goa’s ever-colorful, fiercely independent spirit,” said Anthony Ingham, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide. “Tonight in Mumbai, we transported guests to our newest W Escape, drawing inspiration from Goa’s magnetic charm and showcasing how W fuels a lust for life in our guests around the world.”

Setting the Scene
The grand ballroom of The St. Regis Mumbai was entirely transformed from a classic luxury hotel into a playground of Goa’s exotic scenes. A larger than life, reflective W sign welcomed guests as they entered the venue, which resembled a street from Old Goa, featuring arched windows and vivid shutters as well as fishnet-clad ceilings and a bar adorned with shells - all inspired by Goa’s multicultural vibe, including nods to traditional Portuguese architecture.

Guests reveled in local and international performances by Progressive House DJ and Percussion duo Maultek the homegrown all-female duo Electrovertz. Mr Has, Asia Pacific Music Director for W Hotels, ended the night with his unmistakable, genre-spanning beats. Another highlight was the karaoke experience set up inside of an auto rickshaw drenched in bright hues. Guests could step inside, record their own take on their favorite song and share their videos digitally.

“W Goa will be a fabulous addition to Goa’s hospitality landscape, elevating the way we live, work and play in the celebrated beachside destination,” said Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez. “I love Goa for its vibe and its all-embracing attitude. No matter who you are or what you do, you will find this to be your kind of place and just the ‘escape’ you need. I can’t wait to visit W Goa.”

Fashion Forward
The highlight of the evening unveiled a chic capsule collection inspired by W Goa created by Sachin and Babi Alhuwalia of the luxury fashion womenswear brand SACHIN & BABI. Created in partnership with the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America), the “beach-to-night” collection features 7 pieces including tunics, dresses, a beach tote and earrings, perfect for the idyllic Vagator Beach.

The pieces made their debut as part of a spectacular sound and light show with models appearing in the ‘windows’ of the Goa streetscape to the beats of Mr Has. Each garment features a pompom tassel detail inspired by the marigold flower, ubiquitous at weddings and celebrations all over India. The collection will be available at W Goa

“Designing the collection was a serendipitous homecoming of sorts for us,” said Sachin and Babi Ahluwalia. “This project allowed us to revisit our childhood and teenage years, which were spent in Goa. Street puppets and garlands on sacred cows are shared memories, which imprinted a zeal for celebration, present in our label today. It’s been a privilege partnering with W Hotels, a brand we admire for its willingness to take risks, disrupting the hospitality industry through innovative partnerships with emerging designers and artists like ourselves.”

Cocktail Culture
Innovative, Goa-inspired cocktails provided just the right kick, with guests sipping W Gado, a smooth drink blending Indian spices cinnamon and cardamom with Goan Port, fresh lime juice and a subtle infusion of star anise and pepper; as well as the Patrao’s Coffee (the ‘Big Bosses’ drink) which blends Feni, a typical Goa liquor made with cashews, and black coffee together with whipped cream and demerara sugar.

“This celebration is about experiencing the intoxicating energy and irresistible mystique of Goa, as well as the new energy W will be injecting into the Goa scene,” said TJ Joulak, General Manager of W Goa. “W Hotels will redefine the luxury beachfront lifestyle with its distinctive programing, making W Goa one of the most compelling places to visit in all of India.”

Escape to W Goa
Situated on Vagator Beach in the northern part of Goa, W Goa draws inspiration from the state’s rich history as a mecca for the alternative, once steeped in a vibrant culture that included an influx of visitors ranging from hippies in search of paradise, New Age devotees, purveyors of psytrance and yogaphiles from around the globe. W Goa captures the rustic and dramatic landscape of Goa as well as its cosmopolitan, multi-cultural vibe, injecting Vagator with the exuberant spirit uniquely known to W Hotels.

W Goa will offer 160 stylish and spacious guestrooms, suites and villas. Discreetly spread out over 25 acres of private coastal lands, the hotel’s Living Room, main restaurants and bars boast striking views of the sea. Signature destination restaurant, Spice Traders, offers Pan Asian epicurean flavors amplified with sumptuous ocean views and al fresco dining. The Kitchen Table, an all-day diner, serves popular classics and modern interpretations of international favorites. The WET Deck bar refuels guests with healthy snacks and delicious cocktails, while WOOBAR and the Living Room bar transform from comfortable hangout by day to sultry lounge after dark. But a trip to W Goa is not complete without visiting the Rock Pool which provides a stunning vantage spot to admire sunset panoramas of Goa’s dramatic red cliffs and sea over creative cocktails and innovative Indian fare from a wood-fired oven and grill.